Royal wedding: Barack Obama and Donald Trump not among guests, Politicians not invited to royal wedding

April 11, 2018

Royal wedding: Barack Obama and Donald Trump not among guests, Politicians not invited to royal wedding

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not invited Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn to their wedding.

The decision not to have an “official list” of political leaders in attendance also means that US President Donald Trump will not be invited.

The decision was made based on the church’s size and the fact Prince Harry is only fifth in line to the throne.

It has also been confirmed that Barack and Michelle Obama, who are friends of the prince, have not been invited.

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Among the 1,200 members of the public who will be allowed into the grounds of Windsor Castle on 19 May will be a 12-year-old girl injured in the Manchester Arena attack.

Amelia Thompson, from Dronfield Woodhouse, near Sheffield, was left traumatised after witnessing the bomb blow up after the Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. She also damaged her vocal cords from screaming in horror.

Image copyrightPAImage caption Amelia wants to take along a grandmother bereaved in the Manchester Arena bombing

As her plus one, the schoolgirl will take grandmother Sharon Goodman, whose grand-daughter Olivia Campbell-Hardy died in the bombing.

The decision to invite those with a close relationship to the couple but not “an official list of political leaders” was taken in consultation with the government, Kensington Palace said.

By contrast the invitation list for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 – reflecting the groom’s position as a future monarch – included foreign royals, Commonwealth governors-general, ambassadors, senior religious figures and many politicians from around the world.

The then-Prime Minister David Cameron, deputy PM Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband were among those who attended.

US President Barack Obama was not a guest, but Australian PM Julia Gillard and New Zealand PM John Key were among the leaders from Commonwealth countries invited.

Prince Harry’s wedding will be a very different occasion, as well as being considerably smaller, and an early decision was taken to invite members of the public into the castle grounds on the day.

Individuals were chosen by the regional Lord Lieutenant offices after the couple asked for people with a range of backgrounds and ages.

Image copyrightPAImage caption Reuben Litherland’s mother Jacinta said her son deserved the invitation as he does all the work for deaf-friendly cinema screenings himself

Those who have received an invitation to the outside area include Reuben Litherland, 14, from Derby, in recognition of his work for the deaf community.

Reuben, who campaigns for deaf-friendly screenings at cinemas, said: “I opened the letter and I couldn’t believe it… we danced around.”

Also invited is Pamela Anomneze, 52, from Haringey in north London, who works at an organisation which helps people with mental illness through art and crafts.

The mother-of-three said she initially thought the invite was an “April Fool’s prank”, adding it is “truly unbelievable”.

Ms Anomneze said she will take her son Jude, 15, as her plus one because he “was down on his knees begging to go” and saying: “Oh mum, just to get a glimpse of Meghan Markle!”‘

Image copyrightPAImage caption Pamela Anomneze was invited because of her work at an arts organisation helping people with mental health issues

Meanwhile, primary school teacher David Gregory from Blyth, Northumberland, who has started a recycling initiative and STEM club at his school, also received an invite.

He will go to the castle in the suit he wore at his own wedding last May, as the next day marks his and his wife Hannah’s first anniversary.

Members of the public who are on the guest-list are invited to bring their own picnic to the castle grounds.

Rosie Grinday, the founder of the Birmingham-based social enterprise Miss Macaroon, was invited because of the training her business provides to disadvantaged young people.

She said she will be taking some of her macaroons to the royal wedding as part of her picnic.

Have you been invited to the royal wedding? Please let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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